Abstract:

A hair dryer apparatus and method for use in hair care. The apparatus
preferably includes a nozzle, a housing, an ion generator disposed within
the housing, and an ozone generator disposed within the housing. Further,
disposed within the apparatus may be a circuit board, which is in
electronic communication with at least three control buttons, a
microprocessor, a liquid crystal display, and a voltage regulator.

Claims:

1. A hair dryer comprising:(a) a nozzle;(b) a housing;(c) an ion generator
disposed within the housing; and(d) an ozone generator disposed within
the housing.

2. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein the ion generator is a spark gap.

3. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein the ozone generator is a
high-voltage charged plate.

4. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
ultra-violet light emitting diodes associated with the housing.

5. The hair dryer of claim 4, wherein the plurality of ultra-violet light
emitting diodes are disposed in a substantially circular shaped array.

6. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a ceramic insert, and
wherein the ceramic insert is comprised of at least one metal ion, the at
least one metal ion is selected from the group consisting of aluminum,
calcium, titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper, strontium, barium,
lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, lead, thorium, and silicon.

8. The hair dryer of claim 6, wherein is ceramic insert is a generally
shaped as a disk.

9. A hair dryer comprising:(a) a nozzle;(b) a housing;(c) a circuit board,
at least three control buttons, a microprocessor, at least one liquid
crystal display, and a voltage regulator are disposed within the housing;
and(d) the at least three control buttons, the microprocessor, the liquid
crystal display, and the voltage regulator are in electrical
communication.

10. The hair dryer of claim 9 further comprising: an ion generator
disposed within the housing; an ozone generator disposed within the
housing; and a plurality of ultra-violet light emitting diodes disposed
within the housing.

11. A method of using a hair dryer having a housing and plurality of
control buttons, including an up control button and a down control
button, associated with the housing and a plurality of available
functions associated with the plurality of control buttons comprising:(a)
depressing a control button to select a function of the hair dryer from
the plurality of available functions; and(b) depressing either an up or
down control button to select the desired function of the hair dryer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of available functions
of the hair dryer include at least three of the following functions:
current temperature of the hair dryer; temperature control of the hair
dryer; total time the hair dryer has been used; time the hair dryer has
been used in a session; timing; serial number of the hair dryer; ion
generation; sanitizing; total time the ion generation function has been
used, and total time the sanitizing function has been used.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:(a) selecting the current
temperature function of the hair dryer to obtain a base temperature;(b)
selecting the temperature control function; and(c) depressing the up
control button to set the temperature of the hair dryer an increment
higher than the base temperature.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the increment is selected from the
group consisting of five degrees Fahrenheit, five degrees Centigrade,
five degrees Kelvin, five degrees Rankin, one degree Fahrenheit, one
degree Centigrade, one degree Kelvin, and one degree Rankin.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:(a) selecting the time the
hair dryer has been used in a session function of the hair dryer; and(b)
selecting the timing function; and(c) depressing the up button to
increase the amount of time digital hair dryer will remain on before
shutting off.

16. A method of sanitizing a hair dryer, the hair dryer having a nozzle, a
housing, an ozone producing component disposed within at least a portion
of the housing, and a plurality of ultra-violet light emitting diodes
associated with at least a portion of the housing, comprising:operating
the ozone producing component to produce a sufficient amount of ozone for
a sufficient amount of time to sanitize at least a portion of the
housing; andoperating the ultra-violet light emitting diodes to emit a
sufficient amount of ultra-violet light for a sufficient amount of time
to sanitize at least a portion of the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ozone producing component is an
ion generator.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the ozone producing component is an
ozone generator.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the sufficient amount of time to
operate the ozone producing component ranges from about 1 hour to about 6
hours.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sufficient amount of time to
operate the ultra-violet light emitting diodes ranges from about 1 hour
to about 6 hours.

[0003]The present disclosure relates generally to the care and enhancement
of hair. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a hair
dryer for styling, drying, and enhancing hair.

[0004]2. Description of the Related Art

[0005]There has long been a desire to dry and style hair. Prior hair
dryers are generally known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]In accordance with the illustrative embodiments hereinafter
described, a hair dryer may include a nozzle and a housing. The hair
dryer may further include an ion generator disposed within the housing
and an ozone generator disposed within the housing.

[0007]According to another illustrative embodiment, a hair dyer may
include a nozzle and a housing. Further disposed within the housing may
be a circuit board, at least three control buttons, a microprocessor, at
least one liquid crystal display, and a voltage regulator. The at least
three control buttons, the microprocessor, the liquid crystal display,
and the voltage regulator may be in electrical, or electronic,
communication.

[0008]In accordance with another illustrative embodiment, a method of
using a hair dryer is provided. The hair dryer may have a housing and a
plurality of control buttons, including an up control button and a down
control button, associated with the housing, and a plurality of available
functions associated with the plurality of control buttons. The method
may further include depressing a control button to select a function of
the hair dryer from the plurality of available functions, and depressing
either an up or down control button to select the desired function of the
hair dryer

[0009]In accordance with another illustrative embodiment, a method of
sanitizing a hair dryer is provided. The hair dryer may have a nozzle, a
housing, an ozone producing component disposed within at least a portion
of the housing, and a plurality of ultra-violet light emitting diodes
associated with at least a portion of the housing. The method may include
operating the ozone producing component to produce a sufficient amount of
ozone for a sufficient amount of time to sanitize at least a portion of
the housing. The method may further include operating the ultra-violet
light emitting diodes to emit a sufficient amount of ultra-violet light
for a sufficient amount of time to sanitize at least a portion of the
housing.

[0010]While certain embodiments of the present hair dryer will be
described in connection with the preferred illustrative embodiments shown
herein, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the
invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover
all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. In the drawing figures, which are not to scale, the same
reference numerals are used throughout the description and in the drawing
figures for components and elements having the same structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011]The present hair dryer and method of using a hair dryer may be
understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded, side view of a hair dryer according to an
illustrative embodiment of the present hair dryer.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electronic circuitry
of an illustrative embodiment of a hair dryer according to an
illustrative embodiment of the present hair dryer; and

[0014]FIG. 3 is a rear view of a portion of the hair dryer taken along
cut-line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015]With reference to FIG. 1, an exploded, side view of a hair dryer 100
is illustrated. The hair dryer 100 may generally include: a nozzle 105; a
front housing 110; a rear housing 115; and a rear cap 120. Preferably,
the nozzle 105, front housing 110, rear housing 115, and rear cap 120 are
made from any suitable material having the requisite strength and heat
resistance properties to function in a hair dryer, such as such as any
suitable metal, metal alloy, or plastic material, as are known in the
art.

[0016]The nozzle 105 may be of a general cylindrical shape and may include
a flared end 125 for engagement with the front housing 110. In an
embodiment, the nozzle 105 and flared end 125 are integral with each
other and formed from a single plastic mold. In another embodiment, the
nozzle 105 and flared end 125 may be separate parts affixed to each other
by any suitable means, including glue, screws, mating screw threads,
snaps, friction fit, and/or male/female tabs. The nozzle 105 may be
affixed to the front housing 110 by any means, including glue, screws,
mating screw threads, snaps, friction fit, and/or male/female tabs.

[0017]The front housing 110 may further include a front housing, generally
truncated, conical portion 145 and a front handle portion 150 affixed to
the front housing truncated conical portion 145. The front handle portion
150, preferably extends downwardly in a direction away from the front
housing truncated conical portion 145 to form the front half of the hair
dryer's handle. In an embodiment, the front housing 110 generally
includes: a generally cylindrical shaped extension, or front extension,
135; a front housing generally flared portion 140; a front housing
generally truncated conical portion 145; and a front handle portion 150,
all of which are preferably formed integral with each other and formed
from a single plastic mold. In another embodiment, the front extension
135, front housing flared portion 140, front housing truncated conical
portion 145, and front handle portion 150 may be separate parts affixed
to, or associated with, each other by any suitable means, including glue,
screws, mating screw threads, snaps, friction fit, and/or male/female
tabs. The front housing 110 may be affixed to, or associated with, the
rear housing 115 by any suitable means, including glue, screws, mating
screw threads, snaps, friction fit, and/or male/female tabs, to form a
housing for the components of the hair dryer 100 as will be hereinafter
described.

[0018]The rear housing 115 may include a rear housing, generally
truncated, conical portion 155 and a rear handle portion 160 affixed to
the rear housing truncated conical portion 155. The rear handle portion
160, preferably extends downwardly in a direction away from the rear
housing truncated conical portion 155 to form the back half of the hair
dryer's handle. In an embodiment, the rear housing truncated conical
portion 155 and rear handle portion 160 may be formed integral with each
other and formed from a single plastic mold. In another embodiment, the
rear housing truncated conical portion 155 and rear handle portion 160
may be separate parts affixed to each other by any suitable means or
techniques, including glue, screws, mating screw threads, snaps, friction
fit, and/or male/female tabs. The front handle portion 150 and rear
handle portion 160 may be affixed, or secured, to each other by any
suitable means, including glue, screws, mating screw threads, snaps,
friction fit, and/or male/female tabs.

[0019]The rear cap 120 may be affixed to the rear housing 115 by any
suitable means, including glue, screws, snaps, friction fit, and/or
male/female tabs. In an embodiment, the rear housing 115 and rear cap 120
include mating screw threads such that the rear cap 120 may be screwed
onto the rear housing 115. Preferably, the rear cap 120, includes
perforations 165 to allow air to flow into the hair dryer 100.

[0020]The nozzle 105 and at least a portion of the front housing 110
preferably house a heater assembly 170 and its component parts,
hereinafter described in greater detail, and a primary thermal insulator
175. The nozzle 105 and at least a portion of the front housing 110 may
additionally house: a secondary thermal insulator 180; a ceramic insert
185; and a finger guard 190. The finger guard 190, which is disposed
within the exit end 106 of nozzle 105, serves to prevent any foreign
objects, for example human fingers, from entering the nozzle 105 of the
hair dryer 100.

[0021]Still with reference to FIG. 1, the heater assembly 170 may include
a heating element 195 wound about a heating frame 200. The heating frame
200 may be of any shape or cross-sectional configuration, and may be
formed from any material having the requisite strength and heat
resistance properties for use in a hair dryer, such as a suitable metal,
metal alloy, plastic, ceramic, and/or mica material. A preferable
configuration of the heating frame 200 is an "X" shaped cross-sectional
configuration, when viewed along the longitudinal axis 101 of hair dryer
100. The heating frame is further preferably formed of at least two
rectangular-shaped plate members 201, which are disposed substantially
perpendicular to each other and substantially disposed in planes coplanar
with the longitudinal axis 101 of the hair dryer 100. This configuration
may provide rigidity when the heating element 195 is wound about the
heating frame 200, and uses a minimal amount of material.

[0022]The primary thermal insulator 175, preferably has a generally
cylindrical configuration, and may be sized to snugly house, or contain,
the heating frame 200, adding further rigidity. The primary thermal
insulator 175 may be made from any material having the requisite
strength, heat resistance, and insulating properties for use in a hair
dryer, such as a suitable metal, metal alloy, plastic, ceramic, and/or
mica material. Preferably, the primary thermal insulator 175 insulates
the heat, or prevents the heat, generated by the heating element from
being readily transmitted to the interior wall surfaces of the nozzle 105
and the front housing 110 to prevent the outer wall surfaces of the
nozzle 105 and the front housing 110 from being too hot to the touch of
users of the hair dryer 100. A secondary insulator 180 may be further
provided to engage and be disposed in a concentric relationship with and
within the primary insulator 175. The secondary insulator 180, if
present, may serve to assist the primary insulator 175 to prevent the
outer wall surfaces of the nozzle 105 and the front housing 110 from
being too hot to the touch of users of the hair dryer 100. Additionally,
and without wishing to be bound by the theory, the secondary insulator
180, if present, may be made from any material which may reduce any
electromagnetic fields ("EMF") emitted by the hair dryer 100, including
any extremely low frequency ("ELF") electromagnetic fields emitted by the
hair dryer 100. In an embodiment, the secondary insulator 180 may be made
from materials such as: a metal selected from the group consisting of
steel, iron, gold, silver, and the like; plastic; metal alloy; ceramic;
or mica.

[0023]Still with reference to FIG. 1, the front housing 110 and rear
housing 115 may house, or include, a mounting member 220, a fan 225, and
a motor 230, as well as various electrical components, hereinafter
described in more detail, and the electrical components may be generally
housed between the front handle portion 150 and the rear handle portion
160. Preferably, the mounting member 220 is used to mount the fan 225 and
the motor 230 within the hair dryer 100. The mounting member 220 is
preferably made from any suitable material having the requisite strength
properties to function in a hair dryer, such as such as any suitable
metal, metal alloy, or plastic material. Mounting member 220 generally
includes a spider member 221 having an outer annular-shaped ring 222
supported by a plurality of vanes 223. Along the longitudinal axis 101 of
the hair dryer 100, disposed at the center of the spider member 221, and
connected to the vanes 223 is a generally cylindrical-shaped shaft 224
upon which the fan 225 and motor 230 may be mounted. The ring 222 is
preferably snugly received within either the front housing 110, rear
housing 115, or both. The generally cylindrical-shaped shaft 224 is
further preferably shaped to receive on a forward end the motor 230 and
on a rear end the fan 225.

[0024]The fan 225 is preferably made from any suitable material having the
requisite strength properties to function in a hair dryer, such as such
as any suitable metal, metal alloy, or plastic material. Preferably, the
fan 225 is formed of a plastic material, and the plastic which forms the
fan 225 has a uniform density such that the weight of the fan 225 is
balanced; otherwise, modification of the blades of the fan 225 may be
required to balance the fan in weight in order to optimize performance
while keeping the fan quiet. In an embodiment, the fan blades 226 are
preferably thinner at their tip than at the base near the body of the fan
225. The fan 225 may be affixed to the shaft 224 of the mounting member
220 by any suitable means, including glue, screws, snaps, friction fit,
and/or male/female tabs; however, the fan 225 should be able to freely
rotate within the hair dryer 100, as by mounting it upon a rotatable
shaft (not shown) rotated by a motor 230.

[0025]The motor 230 is preferably a dc motor, but may be an ac motor. The
motor 230 may be affixed to the mounting member 220 by any suitable
means, including glue, screws, snaps, friction fit, and/or male/female
tabs. In an alternatively embodiment, a motor cover 235 may be provided
about the circumference of the motor 230.

[0026]A filter 240 may be disposed within the rear housing 115, preferably
external to the rear housing 115 and within the rear cap 120. Preferably
the filter 240 may be made from any suitable material having the
requisite filtration properties to function in a hair dryer, such as such
as any suitable mesh metal, mesh polymer, mesh fiber, or plastic
material. Without wishing to be bound by the theory, the filter acts to
keep foreign objects, such as hair, from entering the hair dryer and
causing damage to the hair dryer 100 or causing an undesired odor within
the hair dryer 100.

[0027]Still with reference to FIG. 1, the heater assembly 200 may include:
a thermal fuse 205; a bi-metal switch 210; an ion generator 215; and an
ozone generator 216. In an alternative embodiment, the heater assembly
200 may include a thermal fuse 205 and a bi-metal switch 210, and the
mounting member 220 may include an ion generator 215 and an ozone
generator 216. In a still further embodiment, the ion generator 215 and
the ozone generator 216 are associated with, affixed to, or otherwise
supported by both the heater assembly 200 and the mounting member 220
and/or the generally cylindrical-shaped shaft 224. In another embodiment,
the ion generator 215 functions to produce both ions and ozone and the
ozone generator 216 is not present.

[0028]The thermal fuse 205 and bi-metal switch 210 may serve to ensure
that if the heating element 195 exceeds a pre-determined temperature, the
hair dryer 100 shuts off If the thermal fuse 205 reaches a temperature
above a pre-determined temperature, or its set point, the thermal fuse
205 may temporarily disable the electrical current flowing to the heating
element 195, causing the hair dryer 100 to cease producing heat until the
temperature reaches a safe level. If the bi-metal switch 210 reaches a
temperature above its set point, the circuit may permanently break
indicating an unsafe condition in the hair dryer 100 and preventing its
further use. The set point of the bi-metal switch 210 is preferably
greater than that of the thermal fuse 205.

[0029]The ion generator 215 may be any suitable apparatus that is both
capable of generating ions and sized to be received within the hair dryer
100. In an embodiment, the ion generator 215 is a spark gap having two,
or more, conducting electrodes separated by a gap. The gap may be filled
with a gas, such as air. When a voltage ranging between about 200 to
about 2000 volts is supplied, a spark may form, and at least a portion of
the gas within the gap may become ionized. In this manner, the ion
generator 215 may produce ions during the operation of the hair dryer
100. Without wishing to be bound by the theory, Applicants believe that
transmitting ions to the hair has advantageous effects on the hair shaft,
which make it more manageable.

[0030]The ozone generator 216 may be any suitable apparatus that is both
capable of generating ozone and sized to be received within the hair
dryer 100. In an embodiment, the ozone generator 216 is a high-voltage
charged plate having two, or more, charged plates separated by a gap. The
gap may be filled with a gas, such as air, or an insulator such as glass
or ceramic. When a voltage ranging between about 5500 to about 7000 volts
is supplied, at least a portion of the oxygen in the air can form ozone.
In this manner, the ozone generator 216 may produce ozone. Without
wishing to be bound by the theory, Applicants believe that an
accumulation of ozone may sanitize at least a portion of the internal
components of the hair dryer 100 as the ozone moves from the ozone
generator 210 forward into the nozzle 105 and rearward into the housing
120 during a timed sterilization period. The ozone may be moved by either
diffusion to accumulate within the housings when the fan 225 is off, or
by the fan 225, which is used to draw air into the hair dryer 100, and
blow the air through the hair dryer 100 toward the nozzle 105.
Preferably, the ozone generator is operated 216 while the heating element
195 is turned off.

[0031]In an alterative embodiment, the ion generator 215 is a spark gap
capable of receiving voltage at either a range between about 200 to about
2000 volts or a voltage ranging between about 3300 to about 7000 volts,
and thus functions as both an ion generator at low voltage and an ozone
generator at high voltage. In embodiments wherein the ion generator 215
can function as both an ion and ozone generator, the ozone generator 216
may be absent. In these embodiments, the ion generator 215 may also
produce ozone. Without wishing to be bound by the theory, Applicants
believe that an accumulation of ozone may sanitize at least a portion of
the internal components of the hair dryer 100 as the ozone moves from the
ion generator 215 forward into the nozzle 105 and rearward into the
housing 120 during a timed sterilization period. The ozone may be moved
by either diffusion to accumulate within the housings when the fan 225 is
off, or by the fan 225, as previously described. Preferably, when the ion
generator 215 produces ozone it operates while the heating element 195 is
turned off.

[0032]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, in an embodiment, one or more, and
preferably an array of between about 5 and 15, alternatively between
about 5 and 10, ultra-violet light emitting diodes ("UV LED") 245 may be
associated with the rear housing 115, as by affixing the UV LEDs 245 to,
or otherwise disposing them within, the rear housing 115. Alternatively,
the UV LEDs 245 may be mounted in a generally circular array to the back
end of the truncated conical portion 155, and oriented to point toward
the rear cap 120. In an alternative embodiment, the UV LEDs 245 may be
oriented to point toward both the rear cap 120 and forward toward the fan
225 and nozzle 105. In the embodiment wherein the UV LEDs 245 are
oriented toward the fan 225, the blue ultra-violet light emitted from the
UV LEDs 245 may sanitize at least a portion of the interior of the
housing, the fan blades 226 and all exposed component surfaces disposed
between the rear cap 120 and the exit end 106 of the nozzle 105.

[0033]The UV LEDs 245 may emit blue ultra-violet light having wavelengths
ranging from about 405 to about 415 nanometers. The blue ultra-violet
light may be emitted continuously, in regular pulses, or in irregular
pulses. In an embodiment, the intensity of the UV LEDs 245 may be
sufficient to kill bacteria, mold, fungus, and certain viruses within
about 2 to about 6 hours of exposure, and without negative human eye
hazard and without carcinogenic effects. Without wishing to be bound by
the theory, Applicants believe that when arranged and oriented to point
toward the rear cap 120, the blue ultra-violet light emitted from the UV
LEDs 245 sanitizes at least a portion of the interior of the rear cap 120
and the filter 240 disposed between the rear cap 120 and the rear housing
115.

[0034]In an embodiment, the UV LEDs 245 may be used in combination with
the ozone produced within either the ion generator 215 or the ozone
generator 216 to sanitize at least a portion of the interior of the hair
dryer 100. In this manner, the hair dryer 100 may be internally
sterilized against microbes using two mechanisms: 1) light absorption;
and 2) chemical degradation. The microbes susceptible to sterilization
may include bacteria, mold, yeast, fungi, and some viruses. Without
wishing to be bound by the theory, Applicants believe that the
combination of the two sterilization mechanisms has a synergistic effect,
thereby sanitizing the interior of the hair dryer 100 with great
efficiency.

[0035]With reference to FIG. 1, the ceramic insert 185 may be made of a
solid ceramic composition. In another embodiment, the ceramic insert 185
may include a ceramic, metal, or plastic core with a coating of
polysiloxane and ceramic composition. In an embodiment, the ceramic
composition may include at least 16 metal ions in an organic solvent. In
another embodiment, the ceramic composition may include metal ions, and
preferably at least 16 metal ions suspended in an organic solvent. The 16
metal ions of the ceramic composition may include aluminum, calcium,
titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper, strontium, barium,
lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, lead, thorium, and silicon.

[0036]Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 10.5 aluminum
normalized weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal
ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of
aluminum may range from between about 0.1 to about 40 percent.
Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 6.7 calcium
normalized weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal
ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of
calcium may range from between about 1 to about 35 percent. Preferably,
the ceramic composition may include about 15.4 titanium normalized weight
percent, based on the total weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic
composition, and the normalized weight percent of titanium may range from
between about 5 to about 55 percent. Preferably, the ceramic composition
may include about 10 chromium normalized weight percent, based on the
total weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and the
normalized weight percent of chromium may range from between about 1 to
about 35 percent.

[0037]Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 1.9 manganese
normalized weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal
ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of
manganese may range from between about 0.1 to about 45 percent.
Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 7.1 iron normalized
weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal ions in the
ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of iron may range
from between about 2 to about 45 percent. Preferably, the ceramic
composition may include about 4.1 copper normalized weight percent, based
on the total weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and
the normalized weight percent of copper may range from between about 2 to
about 35 percent. Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about
1.1 strontium normalized weight percent, based on the total weight
percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized
weight percent of strontium may range from between about 0.01 to about 10
percent.

[0038]Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 22.1 barium
normalized weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal
ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of
barium may range from between about 3 to about 55 percent. Preferably,
the ceramic composition may include about 1.9 lanthanum normalized weight
percent, based on the total weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic
composition, and the normalized weight percent of lanthanum may range
from between about 0.1 to about 5 percent. Preferably, the ceramic
composition may include about 3.6 cerium normalized weight percent, based
on the total weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and
the normalized weight percent of cerium may range from between about 0.1
to about 10 percent. Preferably, the ceramic composition may include
about 0.4 praseodymium normalized weight percent, based on the total
weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and the
normalized weight percent of praseodymium may range from between about
0.01 to about 5 percent.

[0039]Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 1.3 neodymium
normalized weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal
ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of
neodymium may range from between about 0.2 to about 10 percent.
Preferably, the ceramic composition may include about 0.1 lead normalized
weight percent, based on the total weight percent of metal ions in the
ceramic composition, and the normalized weight percent of lead may range
from between about 0.01 to about 3 percent. Preferably, the ceramic
composition may include about 1 thorium normalized weight percent, based
on the total weight percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and
the normalized weight percent of thorium may range from between about
0.01 to about 3 percent. Preferably, the ceramic composition may include
about 23.3 silicon normalized weight percent, based on the total weight
percent of metal ions in the ceramic composition, and the normalized
weight percent of silicon may range from between about 5 to about 45
percent.

[0040]Without wishing to be bound by the theory, it is believed that when
hot air passes over the ceramic insert 185, far infrared heat (thermal
waves) are caused to be transferred through the ceramic composition, and,
anions, or positive ions, are generated and transmitted to the hair
having advantageous effects on the hair shaft, which make it more
manageable. Further, without wishing to be bound by the theory, the far
infrared heat dries strands of hair from the inside of the strand of hair
outwardly to the outside surface of the hair shaft, which is beneficial
to the stands of hair by reducing the incidence by which ends of the
stands of hair split, i.e., drying hair by far infrared heat reduces
split ends.

[0041]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a circuit board 250 may be
associated with, or otherwise housed in the hair dryer 100, such as
within the handle formed by the front handle portion 150 and the rear
handle portion 160. The circuit board 250 may by adapted to receive ac
current at 120 or 220 volts from a power cord 400 and through a voltage
regulator 260 associated with the circuit board 250. In an embodiment,
the voltage regulator 260 is affixed to the circuit board 250. Further,
in electrical, or electronic, association with the circuit board 250 may
be the following elements: at least one microprocessor 255; at least one
liquid crystal display ("LCD") 265; at least three and optionally four,
five, six or more control buttons, dials, or switches 270, 275, and 280
(fourth, fifth, and sixth buttons not shown); a cold shot control button
300; a sterilization, or sanitizing, control button 305; at least one
high voltage generator 286; and at least one light emitting diode ("LED")
power supply 287.

[0042]In an embodiment, the following elements may be affixed to the
circuit board 250 and in electrical communication therewith: the voltage
regulator 260; the microprocessor 255; at least one LCD 265; at least
three buttons, dials, or switches 270, 275, and 280; at least one high
voltage generator 286; and at least one LED power supply 287. In an
alternative embodiment, due to physical spacing considerations, the at
least one high voltage generator 286 and/or the at least one LED power
supply 287 may be in electrical communication with the circuit board 205,
and disposed elsewhere within the hair dryer 100. In an embodiment, the
following components may be in electrical communication with the circuit
board 250 and disposed within the hair dryer 100: the heating element
195; the motor 230; the ion generator 215; the ozone generator 216; and
the thermal fuse 205.

[0043]The front housing 110 may include apertures 151, 152, 153, and 154a,
154b, and 154c through which the following components may be exposed: a
cold shot control button 300; a LCD 265; the control buttons, dials,
switches, 280, 270, 275; and the sanitizing control button 305,
respectively. Alternatively, the cold shot control button 300, control
buttons, dials, or switches 280, 270, and 275, and sanitizing control
button 305 may be level with, or recessed within, respective apertures in
the front housing 110. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the force to
depress each control button may be high enough to minimize unintentional
depression of each control button, yet low enough to allow ease of
depression. Accordingly, the force needed to depress each control button
may range from about 100 grams force to 310 grams force, alternatively
from about 150 grams force to about 260 grams force, and alternatively
about 200 grams force, plus or minus 50 grams force.

[0044]Depressing the cold shot control button 300, may signal the hair
dryer 100 to turn on the motor 230, which drives the fan 225 to move
relatively cold, or room temperature, air, into the hair dryer 100 and
through the nozzle 105. Alternatively, depressing the cold shot control
button 300 may send an electrical signal to the motor 230 through the
microprocessor 225, which keeps the fan 225 running, and sends an
electrical signal to the heating element 195, which turns off, or keeps
off, the heating element 195.

[0045]Depressing the sanitizing button control 305 may activate the
sanitization mode, which may send electrical signals through the
microprocessor 255 to do the following: 1) deactivate electrical power to
the motor 230; 2) deactivate electrical power to the heating element 195;
3) activate the high voltage generator 286, which provides electrical
power, ranging from about 5500 volts to about 8000 volts, to the ion
generator 215 or the ozone generator 216 to generate ozone; and 4)
activate the low voltage LED power supply 287, which provides electrical
power, ranging from about 3.0 to about 5.5 volts, to the UV LEDs 245 to
emit ultra-violet light. In an embodiment, the microprocessor 255 may
have a timing feature and may automatically turns off the UV LEDs 245 and
the ozone producing element, either the ion generator 215 or the ozone
generator 216, after a predetermined amount of time, ranging between 1
minute and six hours, preferably between two hours and six hours,
sufficient to sanitize at least an internal portion of the hair dryer
100. Preferably, the sanitization mode may be stopped before the
aforementioned predetermined amount of time by depressing the sanitizing
control button 305 a second time.

[0046]In an embodiment, various control buttons may be assigned a
function: an up button 270, a down button 275, and a power button 280.
Depressing at least two of the buttons (preferably the up and down
buttons) at the same time may trigger a fourth mode function.
Alternatively, the fourth mode function may have its own button.

[0047]Depressing the power control button 280 may turn the hair dryer 100
on and off. Depressing the mode button, or otherwise engaging the mode
function may allow the user to control various functions of the hair
dryer 100, including setting the hair dryer 100 to turn off after a set
amount of time, setting the hair dryer 100 to turn off after reaching a
set temperature, turning the ion generator 215 on, keeping the ion
generator 215 on for a certain amount of time, activating the sanitizing
mode (described above) through the microprocessor, and increasing or
decreasing the temperature of the heating element 195. Depressing, or
otherwise engaging, the mode button may also allow the user to observe
various information, including the current temperature of the heating
element 195 in degrees Fahrenheit, Centigrade, Kelvin, or Rankin, the
total number of hours and/or minutes that the hair dryer has been used,
the total number of hours and/or minutes that the hair dryer has been
used during a session, the total amount of hours and/or minutes that the
ionic generator has been used, as well as the serial number of the hair
dryer.

[0048]Depending on the mode that the hair dryer is in, depressing the up
button 270 may have different functions. For example, if the hair dryer
is in "temperature mode," depressing the up button 270 may increase the
temperature of the heating element 195 by a set amount, as regulated by a
thermister (not shown), typically one degree, or any other desired
increment of temperature. Similarly, if the hair dryer is in "temperature
mode," depressing the down button 275 may decrease the temperature of the
heating element 195 by a set amount, as regulated by the thermister (not
shown), typically one degree, or any other desired increment of
temperature. If the thermister fails and the heating element 195 gets too
hot, the thermal fuse 205 preferably trips, which causes the hair dryer
100 to turn off.

[0049]In another example, if the hair dryer 100 is in "timing mode,"
depressing the up button 270 may increase the amount of time that the
hair dryer will stay on before shutting off, and depressing the down
button 275 may decrease the amount of time that the hair dryer will stay
on before shutting off. In alternative embodiments, the buttons may be
replaced by rotatable dials, switches, and the like.

[0050]A power cord 400 may be secured between the lower end of the front
handle portion 150 and rear handle portion 160 and provide electrical
power via the voltage regulator 260 to the circuit board 250 and the
remainder of the electrical components of the hair dryer 100.

[0051]Specific embodiments of the present hair dryer have been described
and illustrated. It will be understood to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the inventions defined by the appended claims.